Camera



`Ian. 5, 1937. N, p BlLLlNG 2,066,605

CAMERA Filed ont. 2s, 1954 2 sheet-sheet 1 Jima/dwg W Jan. 5, 1937 CAMERA Filed OOL. 23, 1934 N. P. BILLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFr-lcE Application 12 Claims.

This invention consists in improvements in or relating to cameras and has for its object to provide, in a camera. novel means whereby the time of exposure can be accurately ascertained for any conditions of light under which the taking of a picture is contemplated.

According to the present invention a camera comprises as an element in its structure an exposure meter incorporated In a lens system of the camera.

Preferably the lens system in which the exposure meter is incorporated constitutes a view iinder which in one form of the invention is of a periscopic type.

The view finder conveniently comprises an eye-glass, an object-glass, one or more prisms or reflectors situated in the path of the light rays passing from the object-glass to the eye-glass, andthe exposure meter comprises an adjustable element vconstituting the equivalent of a light density wedge situated so as to intercept the light rays passing through the View nder.

In-'order that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred example will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a camera embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 3 is a section, onan enlarged scale, on the line 3 3 of Figure 1 showing the exposure meter in its normally inoperative position;

Figure '4 is a. view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the exposure meter in use,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the iower portion of the camera illustrating a modiiied construction,

Figure 'I is a section on the line 'I-l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure '7 of a still further modiilcation, and

Figure 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

The camera body which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral II) may be of any preierred'form. lIn the lower portion of the case there is a socket II which is screwthreaded to receive a iixing screw I2 by which the camera October 23, 1934, Serial No. 749,654 Great Britain November 3, 1933 body may be secured when desired on a stand or other fixing.

In the lower portion of the body there is provided a recess I3 having in it apertures I4 and I5 in the front and rear walls respectively and y an aperture I6 in the outer lateral Wall of the recess.

A front lens Il is fitted and secured in the aperture I4, and rear lenses I8 and I9 are tted and secured in the apertures I5 and I6 respectively.

Above the lens I8 there is formed through the rear wall of the recess I3, a slot 2l) in which is pivoted at 2I an arcuate plate 22. To one edge of this plate is secured a reflector 23 extending substantially from top to bottom of the recess I3 in a plane perpendicular to the top and bottom walls of the recess. It will be seen particularly from a consideration of Figures 3, 4 and 5 that the reiiector can be swung from the position of Figure 4 where it overlies the lens I9 to the position shown in Figure 3 Where it lies at an angle of 45 to the axis of lens I'I.

Between the rear wall 24 of the camera body and a. partition 25 that is contiguous with the socket II there is a channel leading to'an opening entering the recess I3 and to another opening leading out from that recess through the side wall of the camera body. This channel aiords a guideway in which slides a carrier 26 and a strip 21 is mounted in the carrier. In the carrier is an open aperture 28 which, when the carrier is pushed fully home as in Figure 3, lies in front of the lens I8. The strip 2l constitutes a light density wedge, the light transmitting properties of which become gradually reduced in a direction away from the aperture 28.

In the use of the devices described above it will be observed that when the reflector 23 is in the position illustrated in Figure 4 the lenses I'I and I8 constitute a View nder using the lens I8 as the eye-glas. When the carrier 26 is pushed posure meter.

Should it be more convenient to do so the object to be photographed can be viewed in the view finder from the side oi' the camera body by swinging the reflector 23to the position illustrated in Figure 3. 'I'his can be eiected by manipulation of the plate 22 which has an overhanging edge 23 available to the operator from the outside of the camera.

When the reflector has been moved to the position just stated it serves to transmit and denect light rays entering the lens I1 to the lens i3 which now serves as the eye-glass of the view ilnder. In this position of the reflector the exposure meter cannot be employed but itis obvious that it can iirst be employed using the lens combination |1, I8 to ascertain the required exposure before the reflector is swung to the position of Figure 3.

The strip 21 may be marked at intervals along its length in a manner to connote its position of adjustment with the exposure necessary. Alternatively, markings may be provided on the carrier 26 to be read against the edge of the slot in the side wall of the camera through which the carrier slides; or the carrier or a part moving with it may have on it indications to be exposed through an aperture provided for that purpose in the camera body.

It will be observed that by the present invention an eilicient View finding means is ailorded by which either direct or periscopic examination of the object to be photographed can be made; and in addition an exposure meter is combined with such a view nder in a convenient position and one in which the requisite exposure can be ascertained by direct sighting on to the object t0 be photographed.

'I'he modified construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 shows a range finder combined with the exposure meter. In the compartment alongside the view iinder compartment in the bottom of the camera body there is now arranged a xed mirror 30 and a second mirror 3| pivotally mounted to swing about an axis 32 at right angles to the base of the camera. An arm 33 ilxed to the mirror 3| has its free end engaged by a swinging link 34 pivoted at 35 to swing in a plane parallel with the bottom of the camera. 'I'he link is provided with a slot 36 which is engaged by a pin 31 extending downwardly from a sleeve 33. The latter is in screwthreaded engagement with a focussing ring 33 which can be rotated for the purpose of focussing the lens in any known manner. The sleeve 33 is held against rotation by a key 40 engaging in a keyway formed in the sleeve. This key serves also the purpose of guiding the sleeve and consequently the pin to move in a straight line parallel with the axis of the lens. It will thus be seen that by moving the sleeve inwardly or outwardly the link 34 will be turned and in its turn will press against arm 33 to turn the mirror 3| about its pivot 32, a hairpin spring 4| being employed to keep the arm 33 always in contact with the link 34. Apertures 42 and 43 serve to expose mirrors 30 and 3| respectively and lenses may,v if desired, be included in each of those apertures. A viewing aperture 44 is also provided in the rear wall of the camera and tted with a lens coaxially with the aperture 43. 'I'he mirror 30 extends at least to the full height of the aperture 42 but the mirror 3| is only half that height so that an object viewed through the aperture 44 will be seen, as to half of it, above the edge of mirror 3| (or below the edge thereoi| according to the position oi.' the mirror) and as to its other half by reflection from the mirror 3l on to the surface of mirror 3l.

By adjusting the two mirrors relatively to one another the two halves of the object viewed through the aperture 44 can be brought into register as in the use of range ilnders of this type. As the mirror Il is adjusted by the focussing mechanism it will be obvious that provided the range ilnder is properly incorporated with the focussing device when the two halves of the object are brought into register the camera will be accurately focussed. At the same time the density wedge or strip 21 can be utilized in conjunction with the aperture 44 provided that the strip is arranged to move outwardly from the opposite side of the camera. It will be, however. more convenient to utilize the exposure meter strip, in this construction, with the aid of the view finder as before.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 9 and l0 the general principle of the apparatus is similar to that of the construction according to Figures 6 to 8. In the modiiled form, however, the fixed mirror 30 is now a component of the view finder and extends downwardly to obscure half of the aperture I5 whereas the mirror 3| is now full height. The mirrors 3l and 3| are oppositely inclined relatively to the simllar mirrors of the previous construction, and the mirror 30 will have mirrored surfaces on both sides. The view finder can be utilized from either viewing aperture as previously described but in this case a view of half the object will enter through the lens i1 and the other half will berefiected from mirror 3|. The exposure meter strip 21 will in this last described construction be as arranged in the nrst construction.

I claim:-

1. A photographic camera having a combined direct vision and reflex view-under formed as an element in the structure of the camera, and having an exposure meter incorporated in the lens system of the view-lnder.

2. A photographic camera having in combination a view-finder which is formed as an element in the structure of the camera and comprises object and eye lenses and a reflector adjustable into and out from a position in which it causes light passing through the object lens to be reflected to the eye lens whereby the view-finder can serve at choice of the user as a direct vision or as a reilex view-finder, and an exposure meter incorporated in the lens system of the viewnder.

3. A photographic camera having a combined direct vision and reflex view-finder formed as an element in the structure of the camera, and having an exposure meter comprising an adjustable element which constitutes a light density wedge and is situated to intercept light rays passing through the view-lnder.

4. A photographic camera according to claim l. in which the nder comprises a recess in the camera body and has a front lens in an aperture in the front wall thereof, a rear lens in the rear wall, a second rear lens in a transverse wall and' a reflector adiustable into and out from a position between the front and rear lenses with a light density wedge constituting the exposure meter and formed as a strip slidable past one of the rear lenses.

5. A photographic camera according to claim 2 in which the adjustable renector is operatively connected tomeansformovingitintoandoutn from its operative position, said means extending to the outside of the camera body.

6. A photographic camera according to claim 1 in which the view-finder is situated at or near one corner of the camera body and the exposure meter is constituted by a light density wedge of strip form. in combination with guides provided 'nder incorporated also as an element in the structure of the camera.

8. A photographic camera according to claim 'I in which the range iinder is one comprising twin mirrors in combination' with a device for eiiecting relative adjustment o'f the mirrors, a movable element for focussing the camera and a mechanical coupling between the said device for effecting mirror adjustment and the said focussing element.

9. A photographic camera according to claim 7 in which the range-nder comprises one fixed mirror and a second mirror which is movable in combination with a focussing member for the camera movable into and out from the camera body and linkage connecting said focussing member with the second mirror to move and adjust the latter.

10. A photographic camera according to claim 7 in which the movable mirror serves also as the adjustable reiiector ot the view-under,

11. A photographic camera according to claim 1 in which the iinder comprises a recess in the camera body and has a front lens in an aperture in the front wall thereof, a rear lens in the rear wall, a second rear lens in a transverse wall and a reilector adjustable into and out from a position between the iront and rear lenses with a light density wedge constituting the exposure meter and formed as a strip slidable past one of the rear lenses and in which the adjustable reilector is operatively connected to means for moving it into and out of its operative position, said means extending to the outside oi the camera 12. A photographic camera according to claim `l in which the finder comprises a recess in the camera body and has a front lens in an aperture in the front wall thereof, a rear lens in the rear wall, a second rear lens in a transverse wall and a reflector adjustable into and out from a position between the front and rearlenses with a light density wedge constituting the exposure meter and formed as a strip slidable past one of the rear lenses and in which the view-nder is situated at or near one corner of the camera body and the exposure meter is constituted by a light density wedge of strip form, in combination with guides provided in the camera body, and leading to a slot in a wall, said guides serving to guide the strip which can thus move through the slot.

NOEL PEMBERTON BILLING. 

